7/27/2019 Tell Tale Heart Character

1/2

The narrator in The Tell-Tale Heart insists that he is not mad. How does Poe use language,

unctuation and structure in the opening paragraphs to show that the narrator is, in fact, insane?

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The Narrator

TRUE! - nervous - very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that

I am mad? The disease had sharpened my senses - not destroyed - not dulled them. Above all was

the sense of hearing acute. I heard all things in the heaven and in the earth. I heard many things

in hell. How, then, am I mad? Hearken! and observe how healthily - how calmly I can tell you the

whole story.

It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain; but once conceived, it haunted me

day and night. Object there was none. Passion there was none. I loved the old man. He had never

wronged me. He had never given me insult. For his gold I had no desire. I think it was his eye!

yes, it was this! He had the eye of a vulture - a pale blue eye, with a film over it. Whenever it fell

upon me, my blood ran cold; and so by degrees - very gradually - I made up my mind to take the

life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye forever.

Character Development in

The Tell-Tale HeartEdgar Allan Poe wrote The Tell-Tale Heart in 1843. It is one of his most famous short stories.

Below are the opening paragraphs of the story.

Copyright K reader.com. All Rights Reserved. Free for educational use at home or in classrooms. www.k12reader.com

NAME: ______________________________________

7/27/2019 Tell Tale Heart Character

2/2

The narrator in The Tell-Tale Heart insists that he is not mad. How does Poe use language,

unctuation and structure in the opening paragraphs to show that the narrator is, in fact, insane?

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

The Narrator

TRUE! - nervous - very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that

I am mad? The disease had sharpened my senses - not destroyed - not dulled them. Above all was

the sense of hearing acute. I heard all things in the heaven and in the earth. I heard many things

in hell. How, then, am I mad? Hearken! and observe how healthily - how calmly I can tell you the

whole story.

It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain; but once conceived, it haunted me

day and night. Object there was none. Passion there was none. I loved the old man. He had never

wronged me. He had never given me insult. For his gold I had no desire. I think it was his eye!

yes, it was this! He had the eye of a vulture - a pale blue eye, with a film over it. Whenever it fell

upon me, my blood ran cold; and so by degrees - very gradually - I made up my mind to take the

life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye forever.

Character Development in

The Tell-Tale HeartEdgar Allan Poe wrote The Tell-Tale Heart in 1843. It is one of his most famous short stories.

Below are the opening paragraphs of the story.

Copyright K reader.com. All Rights Reserved. Free for educational use at home or in classrooms. www.k12reader.com

Actual answers will vary. Correct answers could include references to:

1) The way Poe uses disjointed sentences, such as I think it was his eye!

yes, it was this!

2) The numerous exclamation points and dashes to show the narrators

excitement and incoherence, such as TRUE! - nervous - very, very

dreadfully nervous...

3) Poes use of language, such as eye of a vulture, which is a

fear-inspiring metaphor.

NAME: ______________________________________